Spring clip



Aug. 10, 1943. `A E. PELZ 2,326,558

SPRING CLIP Filed March 9, 1943 L, ,Q r rop/v5 x52 vided near its lower end with a keyhole-shaped slot I I having its enlarged circular opening at its upper end, as shown 'in Fig. (l. This opening is adapted to receive the head of a stud I2 that projects from the back of the case. The inner end of the stud may originally be hollow so that it can be riveted to the case.

of the cylindrical body of the stud with slots I3 which reduce its width transversely ofthe case only to permit the stud to enter the narrow portion of the slot when the clip is'slid upwardly on the case. The head of the stud will thus overlie the arm ofthe spring on the oppositesides of the slot and thereby hold the spring against the c The pressure of the lower end of the clip 1 case. againstthe case presses the lower end of the spring against the stud head and thereby presses the upper end of the spring against the case. n

In order to restrain the clip from being moved downwardly on the case, which would permit them to be separated, the upper end of the case- As shown in Fig. 5,V the head is formed by providing the opposite sides by the pins so that they can pass between them until the head of the stud 24 reaches the enlarged engaging arm of the spring has a downwardly are in the form of" laterally resilient ngersthe resiliency of whi'chi's increased Yby providing the arm witha slit" I8 that connects the notch` and I'I may be of vlarge enoughdiameter to keep'-"the ngers spread slightly when it is in recesses I6. If the pin isnot made of a metal hard enough to prevent the spring from cuttinginto its sides,v it maybe encircle'd'by a hard metal washer;

The s pacing'between the 'stud and-pin is such thatV whenthe spring is -rst'pressed back against the case with the stud inthe upper end of slot I-I v as shown in Fig. 6, pin I1 is `at the entrance to notch I5; By merely pushing `theclip upwardly, the spring will slide Aupthecase with the stud entering the narrow yend vof the. slot and with the sides ofthe notch spreading apart as they slide against .the pin until the pin snaps into recesses I IiV (Fig; '7) tozhold the clip in place;V The clip can be` readilyrremoved by pushingit downwardly until it can be pulled over the'head ofthe stud.

Due to the head of the stud being formed in the` manner shown by slots I3, `the head does not catch on the springr when the latter ismoved down to the Fig. 6 positionand interfere with removal ofthe spring from the case. It is preferredto provide the case with a rectangular depression I3 for the spring that servesthe double purpose of a guide for the vspringV in attaching itvt-o'the case,

y and a recess for the arm I0 so that the spring and stud and pin will not project from the case any farther than necessary. VDue to the use of a leaf spring andthe two-point contact of the clip,.the clipA can cant suiiiciently to compensate for unequal thickness of clothing and thus 'always grip theclo'thing at two laterally spaced points. Such a' spring is strong and durable andv very unlikely to be harmed by perspiration.' Y

In the modification shown in Fig. 8, the laterally resilient iingers 2Iof the case-engaging arm of thespring 22 are not engaged by la pin between slot,'whereb`y'the entire is bilurcated.` Pin;

.to i

case; a clothing clip, a leaf spring spacing the upperrrend of the slot 25. 5 removed from the case in the manner described The clip' can then be above. l 'Y c According tothe provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and construction ofvvmy invention and have illustrated and -described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it'l understood that', within the scope of the appended claims, Vthe'invent'ion may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim: f

, IIA` hearing aid microphone unit comprising a case', a clothing clip, a leaf spring spacing the upper end of the clip from the case and urging its lower end toward the case, saidspring having spaced arms joined at one end by a resilient p0rtion, one 'of said-arms being joined to theclip and -fthe other arm being joined to the case, said spring `being the sole means for connecting the clip to the case.

2, A hearing aidl microphone unit comprising a case, a clothingclip, a. leaf spring spacing the upper Vend of the clip from the case and urging its lower endV toward th case, Saids'pring having spaced arms joined at one end by a resilientpor'- tion, one of said arms being joined tothe'clip andthe lother arm engaging the case,V and means projecting from thecasead overlying the'caseengaging arm to normally holdA the spring against the case,'said arm being 'bifurcated vto provide laterally resilientfiingers that Vnormally restrain thespring -from vertical movement; on the case, and said arm being manually movable verticallyon the caseto disengage it fromsaid means.l' *Y 3. Aheari'ng aid microphone unit comprising a upper end of the clip from the case and `urging its lower end toward thecase, said spring having .spaced arms joined at one end by a resilient portion,. one '0f said arms being joined'to the clip and the other arm engaging the case, the caseengaging arm having a longitudinal slot near its lower'end; a stud projecting from the case and 'through the lower endrof the slot, and having a head normally overlying the arm` to hold the spring against the case, the upper end of the slot being enlarged to pass said head, the4 upper end portion of said case-engaging arm being bifurcated to provide laterally resilient ngers, and means projecting from the case beside said fingers, Ysaid fingers being provided with side recesses for receiving said means to normally hold the 'spring against movement downwardly on the case, the lateral resiliency of the iingers permitting thespring to be-manually slid downwardly on the vcase to move Vsaid enlarged portion of said slotto the stud, Ywhereby said clip and spring can be detached from the case. Y v 1- 4. A hearing aidinicrophone unit comprising a case, faclothing clip,V a lleaf ,spring spacing the upper end of the clip from the case and `urging its v lower end toward the case,' said spring having spaced arms joined at one end by'a'resilient portion, one 'of said arms being joined to the clip and the other arm engaging the case,-the ease-engag-v ing arm having a longitudinal slot neary its lower end, a stud projecting from the case and through the lowerend-'of the slot and having a head normally overlying the arm. to` hold the spring against the case, the upper endY of the slot being enlarged to pass said'head, said ease-engaging arm also having a notch'extendi-ng downwardly from its upper endl and a pinprojecting Viroiri the case and intothe lower end Vof the'notch, the width ofV said notch being Vrestricted directly above the pin to normally hold the spring against movementdownwardly-on the'case; and the sides spaced arms' joined at one" end by a resilient .portion one ofi said'arms being `joined to vv.the clip i and the otherarm'engagingflther case,fthe Vcaseof the notch being resiliently spreadableto vvper`- mit the restricted portion of the notch to passfthe pin when the springis manuallyslid downwardly on the case to move said Venlargedportion off said siot to the stud, whereby said clip and spring can be detached from the case. Y Y

5.l A` hearingl aid microphone unit cormfnisiing a case, a clothing clip having its lower endfnori the clip, the case-engaging armhaving a longitudinal slot near its lower endVa stud projecting from the case and through the lower end of the slot and having a head normally overlying the arm to hold the spring against the'case, the upper end of the slot being enlarged to pass said head, the upper end portion of said case-engaging arm being bifurcated to provide laterally Vre'- -slot tothe stud; whereby Asaid engaging larm having :a longitudinal slotnear-its lower end,;a stud projeeting'irom the'case and' throughjthe Ylower` end of; the1slot` and having. a

head normally .overlying thearmto hold the spring against the case,^the upper end of the slot l wardly'from rits `upperend, the portion of said i arm between said notchand slot being split lone gitudinally, anda pinV projecting from theV casey and into the lower end'ofV the notch, the width oi said'notch being restrictedldirectly above the pin to normally `hold the spring against movement downwardly 4on the case, and' the 'sides of the notch being. resilientlyvspreadable to permitthe restricted portion 'of the notch to pass thepin when" the spring is', manually zslid downwardly on the. `case Vtomove said enlargedl portion of' said Y y clip and spring can be detached vfromthecase.E

Y 9. A Yhearing aid Vmicrophone unit comprising' a case, a clothing clip havinglaterally'spaced case-engaging points, a Aleaf spring spacing theV 'j upperend of the'clip from the case and urging its lower end toward the case, said `spring Vhaving'v spaced arms joined atone end by a resilient por'- tion, one of said arms being joinedto the clip j and the other arm being joined to the case.

silient ngers, and means projecting from theV case beside said fingers, said fingers being provided with side recesses for receiving said means'to `normally hold the spring against movement f 10. A hearing aid microphone unit comprising a case,-a clothing clip, 'a leaf 4spring spacing the upper end ofthe clip from the case and urging I its lowerend towa'rd'the case, said spring having spacedarms joined at one end by a resilient porlower end, a stud projecting from theV case and through the lower endof 'the' slot and having a head normally overlying the arm to hold the spring against the case, theupper end of the slotY being enlarged to pass said head, said arm beingV tion, one of said arms being joined tothe clip and the other arm engaging the case, the case being provided with an arm-receiving depression having a depth atleast as great as the thickness of the adjoining arm, and means projecting fromV being manually movable vertically on the case to disengage it from said means. Y l Y 7. A hearing aid microphone unit comprising a case, a clothing clip, a leaf spring spacing the upper end of the clip from the caserand urging bifurcated to provide laterally resilient ngers that normally restrain vertical movement of the spring on the case, and said arm being manually CaSe.

11. A hearing aid microphone unit comprising a case, a clothing clip, a leaf spring spacing the upper end of the clip from the case and urging its lower end toward the case, said spring having spaced arms joined at one end by a resilient por-k v tion, one of said arms being joined to the clip and its lower end toward the case, said spring having spaced arms joined at one end by a resilient portion, one of said'arms engaging the clipand having a recess in it, a portion of the clip overlying the arm to hold it against the clip, the cliphaving a detent projecting into said recess to hold the spring against longitudinal movement relatheother arm engaging the case, means project-1 ing from the case and overlying the'case-engaging arm to normally hold the spring against the case, the upper end portion of said arm being bi-V furcated to provide laterally resilient nngers, and means projecting' from the case beside said iin-'j gers, said lingers vbeing'provided with side -respring and to thereby forma head overlying the arm,ithe upper end of the slot being enlarged to Y pass said head, said arm being bifurcated to provide laterally resilient lingers that normally yrestrainV verticalmovement of the springy on'the case, and said arm being manually movable downwardly on the case to move said enlarged portion of the slot to the stud, whereby saidpclip and spring can be detached from the case.

c 13. A hearing aid microphone unit comprising a case, a clothing clip,ra leaf spring spacing'the upper end of the clip from the case and'urging case, the upper end portion of said arm Ybeing bifurcatedto provide laterally resilient lingers having recesses in their outer edges, and means projecting from the case and into said recesses to normally hold the spring against downward movement on'the case,v the lateral resiliency oi the lingers permitting the spring to be manually slid downwardly on the case between said lastmentioned to disengage it from the case. l

14. A hearing aid microphone unit comprising a case, a clothing clip, a leaf spring spacing the upper end of the clip from the case and urging its lower end toward the case, said spring having spaced arms joined at one end by a resilient portion, one of said arms being joined to the :clip and the other arm engaging the case, means projecting from the case and overlying the case-engaging arm to normally hold the spring against the its lower end toward the case, said springhaving ing from thecase and overlying the case-engaging arm to normally hold the spring against the ALFRED E. PELZ.v 

